We must play ‘defense of our lives’, Kenya too strong – Somalia team manager

Drummers (top) of a Burundi dance troupe stage their show at Stade Umuco, Muyinga during the opening day last Saturday of the Fifa-sponsored Cecafa U17 Championship. Above: Somalia team manager Mohamed Abdulle Farayare (right) at a Press Conference after his team picked up a valuable point against host Burundi at Stade Urukundo in Buye, Ngozi Province on Tuesday. He said in their last Pool ‘A’ match on Friday Somalia would have to be at the defensive best to avoid ‘disaster’, against a Kenyan team picked by many as very strong

Overhead view of a Somalia attack on Burundi goal at Stade Urukundo, Buye in Ngozi Province on Tuesday. The teams drew 0-0

THE Fifa-funded (through African Football Confederation – CAF) Cecafa U17 Championship enters its fifth in Burundi with Sudan and Uganda are currently, Wednesday afternoon, playing in a Group ‘B’ match at Stade de Ingoma in Gitega, central Burundi.

Although there were slight showers as the national anthems played for the match kick-off, previously the weather in Burundi has been intermittently chilly and rainy but the competition is uninterrupted because the three match venues — Stade Urukundo in Ngozi, Stade Umuco in Muyinga and Stade de Ingoma – are excellent astro-turf grounds with comfortable spectator seating.

Some of the strong teams in the tournament are Kenya, who however drew 0-0 their match with Ethiopia in Gitega on Tuesday after an opening 4-0 drubbing of hosts Burundi before a packed audience at Stade Umuco, Muyinga last Saturday.

Somalia, who had their 1-3 defeat by Ethiopia on Sunday overturned into a 3-0 victory after Ethiopia were found to have fielded ineligible players, drew 0-0 with a fighting Burundi in Ngozi on Tuesday. The Somalis are there on the verge of qualifying for the semi-finals before their last Pool ‘A’ match on Friday in Muyinga.

“But the Kenyan team boys are awesomely big and strong,” said Somalia team manager Mohamed Abdulle Farayare adding: “Our only option is to prepare for the best defensive game we have ever played. We can’t open ourselves up by being offensive; Kenya will tear us apart.”